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All we wanted was a good, quick breakfast spot and instead we were subjected to an absolutely great one. All jokes aside, Sweet Maple Cafe is a classic, quaint breakfast spot with great service and very good food. We arrived on a Friday morning with a party of 7 and were seated right away. They have both indoor and outdoor seating; we chose indoor and the setting was very homey and comforting. Street parking is the only option available so if you're coming by car then be prepared to circle until you grab a spot. The menu is relatively standard aside from the fact that they offer specials depending on the day of the week. We ordered the not-so-plain buttermilk pancakes with a side of bacon, the catfish nuggets (Friday only special) with an egg and cinnamon raisin toast, and a raspberry latte. The pancakes? Soft and light. Not too thick but not paper thin, butter melted right into it and kept its flavor. Just the way we like pancakes. The bacon could've been a bit better as it was stiff but that's a small miss apart from the main dish. The catfish nuggets were straight up phenomenal. The batter was light and the catfish was cooked perfectly. The eggs were cooked just as requested and hey, even the cinnamon raisin toast was pretty good. Lastly, the latte was great. Smooth and sweet, the syrup not too strong but sweet enough to taste it. A great pairing to any breakfast meal. By the time we finished eating we were incredibly glad we had come into Sweet Maple Cafe. The food, service, and setting; all great. It pains me not to give this place a 5 because 5 should mean something that blows your mind from a taste and experience standpoint. This place is a great example of why reviews should allow for .5 or.1 intervals on rating because this place easily deserves much more than a 4, unfortunately we are limited by Product Engineers, but hey, maybe they'll read this and make a change (yeah, right).
Don't be surprised at the breakfast crowd that this place consistently pulls. I haven't been here in over 15 years, and it was just as good as I remember. The food is AMAZING. The time standards are awesome and the servers are great people. The screened in outdoor expansion was a great touch, too (there was only indoor seating when I visited as a teenager). The indoor area gives the best at home feel. The fact that it hasn't changed is honestly so endearing. The menu is solid and the Carmen G's Scramble offered a great portion with scrumptious sides. I'm excited to try more of the menu on my next trip to Chicago. Parking isn't as easy as it used to be, but that has nothing to do with this amazing place. Just a word to the wise, if you can...do a rideshare. If not, be prepared to search a little for a spot (unless you get lucky like we did)!
Start to finish, the experience felt like I was transported to a small shop in the south. Between the caring staff to the delicious food, I've decided I'll be returning every time I'm in Chicago. The cinnamon pancake is a must have. The home fries were perfectly made. I'm excited to try the menu in full.
The service here is absolutely warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. It has that true homey, old-school diner vibe that makes you feel comfortable as soon as you sit down. The food overall was good, but the real star of the show is the cinnamon roll pancake. Seriously, one of the best pancakes I've ever had. It is fluffy, flavorful, and perfectly sweet without being over the top. I'd come back for that alone.
never had a bad meal here. never had bad service here. vibes are always great here. that's is the review.
For Juneteenth we had a plan to go have brunch and support a local, Black-owned restaurant. After a quick search, I found Sweet Maple. It's located in the Italian district (W. Taylor Street) and is a homegrown, very charming and old-school type of eatery. The sign out front is worn - it's barely legible but inside is great food, warm smiles and amazing service. Parking is on the street and remember to pay at the machine or use the mobile app. Since it was a holiday, we arrived about 11:15 AM and the wait was outside. It was a mixed crowd of people - that's a good sign that great food awaits! We waited about 30 minutes to be seated and it was well worth it! For brunch we ordered the omelette breakfast, a skillet bowl and one of their buttermilk pancakes they're known for. Also, coffee and an Arnold Palmer (no sweet tea but mixed with lemonade it was great). Standouts: the fresh baked biscuits! Add butter and a little jelly...mouth watering. The buttermilk pancake too! So tasty and cooked just perfect. Our server was attentive and super nice. The food was served quickly and the flavors were delicious. I love breakfast and this was definitely a great start to our holiday weekend!
A cute quaint place that is celebrating their 25th year anniversary last year. We came in and were seated immediately. The place was half full on a Thursday morning and 9:15. Emmitt, our waiter was fast, efficient and courteous! My mom ordered some scrambled eggs cooked soft and grits. I ordered the Carmen G's Scramble which came with Eggs scrambled with bacon, spinach, mushrooms, and your choice of cheese. I chose cheddar cheese. I had home fries and a biscuit . Everything was fresh and delicious! It was like sitting in a grandma's dining room! Clean, reasonably priced, good food and great service!!!
Had the corn beef hash and it was delicious! The staff were all very friendly and I felt like family. Definitely worth the trip!
After 20 minute wait for a table, our server was really attentive. We enjoyed the vintage look, like your Grandma's home. Dishes came really quick! They were outstanding! We really loved our experience!!!
Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the flavorful breakfast dishes, friendly attentive service, and a cozy homey atmosphere.
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7 years ago
7 years ago
What a great cafe to find in Chicago. My girlfriend and I were looking for a small place to eat breakfast without the big crowds. The ride from center city was worth it. The eggs! The bacon! So good! The staff was also very friendly! That's a big one in my book. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
7 years ago
Honestly perplexed as to how this place is rated so highly. The best thing this place has going for it is the waitstaff, who were awesome. Other than that, I found the food to be bland and overpriced for such simple dishes. Definitely not worth the wait on a busy Sunday! read more
9 years ago
6 years ago
Thus place is so good! One of the best breakfast and brunch spots in the city as far as food. OMG their yummy cinnamon roll pancakes are the best and they don't skimp on the portions either. I definitely recommend this spot! read more
4 years ago
Great breakfast spot near Rush hospital area/little Italy. After taking my grams to an appt at the hospital we were looking for a nice breakfast spot. Thankfully my fellow yelpers didn't steer me wrong. This place is a gem, the only reason they didn't get the full 5 stars are the prices, a bit high for breakfast in my opinion but aside from the pricing I really loved this place and so did gram (and she is a hard sell :) The menu has a great variety and even though I was dying to order the special cinnamon roll pancakes I went for the sweet maple signature, two eggs, sausage patty, home fries, and biscuit. The portions are huge and everything was fresh and flavorful, I will definitely be back! read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
5 years ago
10 years ago
Amazing breakfast and brunch spot! The people working there are very friendly and try to seat you as fast and as best as they can. Your party must be all present in order to be seated! This place is small and cozy so definitely try this place out on a weekday or early early on the weekend, because the weekend wait time can be as long as 2 hours! We ordered the blueberry pancakes, Maple-Opolis Omelette, and a small freshly squeezed juice. The pancakes were phenomenal! So airy yet dense at the same time, its inexplicable. Each bite was just so heavenly! Perfectly sweetened and delightful. We will definitely be back to try the other flavors of pancakes. The Maple-Oplois omelette itself was filled with delicious veggies and cheeses. The house potatoes were well seasoned and crispy. The biscuit was crunchy at the edges and dense in the middle. Nothing better than a great hardy breakfast! The small OJ was fresh and had a bit of pulp in it, which I personally like a lot. Great place for breakfast and brunch! read more
10 years ago
I Love their breakfast!! Pancakes, French Toast, Biscuits, Cheese Grits, Potatoes!!! All Delicious!! I love that it's a Black Owned establishment and the food is outstanding! I have yet to come in for lunch, but I will soon!!! It's a small space, but it's cozy and authentic, very much so southern style decor! I Love It! read more
12 years ago
On the hunt for biscuits and gravy, we ended up at Sweet Maple Cafe. It's a small, totes adorbs, type family joint that's also super small. We had tried to stop by once before, only to be met with the indeterminate bull rush that is the Chicago brunch bunch. So, this is possibly the grossest looking biscuits & gravy you'll ever see in your life. It looks like a brown mush that most resembles the blended, oxidized, browned banana we feed the baby. I miss southern white gravy like a fat kid misses cake. The gravy is just meh, but the homemade biscuit is admittedly dang tasty. If I were to return, I'd recommend just going with a biscuit, sans gravy. I have a general non-omelet policy when I dine out, since it's so easy to make at home, but the wife's "Sweet Maple-Opolis" omelet was fairly fantastic, thanks to a nice feta/sundried tomato kick. Coffee is Seattle's Best and forgettable. If you can stand it, wait until after the meal, go to Scafuri Bakery next door, and get a drip using Passion House beans instead. And pick up a lemon ricotta pound cake while you're at it. read more
This place was pretty good but mainly for the cinnamon roll pancakes. It was a specialty item not on the menu. As of the last time I was there(2mts ago), said pancakes are no longer being served. Dont know if I'll be back. read more
6 years ago
The potato's and onion mix were fantastic and the chorizo, jalapeño omelette was the perfect spicy and savory balance. Ordered at the takeout window and sat on the patio and service was still great! read more
I was really excited to finally try Sweet Maple Cafe, but I was less than thrilled with my experience. When I came inside it was very crowded and I got a seat within a few minutes, which was great. Didn't have to wait long. When I was finally ready to order, I told the waitress that I wanted a fresh squeezed orange juice, and she replied with, "It comes from a box, actually. It's definitely not fresh squeezed." Wow. That's really great marketing right there. 1) If you're going to list fresh squeezed juice on your menu, make sure it's fresh squeezed. 2) If it's NOT fresh squeezed juice, don't tell your customers its not. Strike one. Then I got two eggs over easy with toast and a single pumpkin pancake. Nothing stood out about the food, and the bread probably had the same nutritional value as toilet paper. I will not be back here. read more
12 years ago
11 years ago
All I have to say is yes! I enjoyed everything! I had breakfast for the first time at Sweet Maple Cafe and loved it. We were a party of 4, everyone ordered something different so we could each have a little taste. I ordered the corn beef hash, eggs over easy, and (to my surprise) one really huge biscuit. My eggs were perfect and my biscuit was extra fluffy. I also tasted the liver and onions, the salmon cakes and lemon/raspberry pancakes, which were both specials for today. Omg! The liver and onions is the best I've ever had dining out. Definitely what I'll be ordering for myself when I return. The salmon cakes, as well as the pancakes were awesome. Overall I had a really great experience. No complaints. The service was great, everyone was so attentive. I just loved the whole feel of the restaurant. The sign outside is cute and welcoming. The interior is warm and cozy...made me feel so comfortable. And I really enjoyed seeing the portraits hanging throughout the dining area. All of these things made my dining experience very special. I recommend Sweet Maple Cafe. Really, I insist you try it. read more
Came around 1pm on a Tuesday with a party of 8 and was able to be seated quickly. I had the Dr. Glenn's egg scramble (~$11) which has ham, bell peppers, cheddar, spinach, and mushrooms. Tastes amazing with a little bit of tobasco sauce. Comes with home fries or grits and biscuit or toast. I had the home fries which are basically breakfast potatoes. They were cooked to a perfect balance of crispy and soft. The biscuit is huge and tastes great with the assortment of jelly they have on the table. I personally liked the blackberry jelly the most. All in all, a very solid brunch place :) read more
16 years ago
10 years ago
Was headed to the Lagunitas Brewery with a friend on Friday and stopped in at Sweet Maple on Taylor street for some brunch. This place isn't very big, but has a lot of that old-school charm to it. We got a table after about a 5 minute wait. I imagine it gets very crowded on the weekends. Their menu has a nice mix of sweet and savory options as well as lunch fare. Be sure to check the board for daily specials and fresh bakery items too! My friend got the 18th street scramble and I went with the special of the day, cinnamon roll pancakes. They tasted great (hard to screw up cinnamon roll pancakes am I right?) and were super filling. I recommend putting a little butter on it to soften the texture up. On par with that old school charm I mentioned, prices are VERY reasonable. Our total including tip was $32. Great food, low prices and friendly staff...all signs point to a 5 star review for this Little Italy brunch classic! read more
3.5 stars What I really enjoy is the small old school diner feel when you walk in. It's a little funny cause your sort of on display. The hostess/cashier stand is in the back but all the tables face the door when you walk in. I went with a group of friends yesterday for lunch. My boy got the fish special that he's got before and always enjoyed. My girl got the egg and cheese sandwich which she said was good and filling. I opted for the 18th street omelette. The omelette itself I didn't care for that much (I've had better chorizo omelets) but I did enjoy the potatoes and of course the biscuit (melts in your mouth) you get on the side. Great place to meet up for brunch and conversation. read more
14 years ago
Okay this place is very sweet. The atmosphere of the establishment is quite inviting, plus the decoration gives out the feeling of sitting at your grandparents' house waiting for a hot meal to come out of the kitchen. Good vibe. The place does get packed but they have a few plastic chairs for people to wait outside if they have to. It's worth the wait though. The service is amazing, 6 out of 5 stars there. Both our host and server were very attentive and answered all our questions. Our server checked on us and although we were indecisive for a long time she always seemed enthusiastic and cheerful, so we never felt rushed. Nice feeling. The food -and this is where the bubble gets burst- was above average but not amazing in lieu of the other aspects. The first bummer was that their espresso machine is not working so we had to say good-bye to our hot chocolate daydreams. Granted, that's not their fault, but there's no brunch without the coffee or hot chocolate right? For the meal itself, I had the Holiday French Toast with a side of biscuits with their spicy sausage and gravy. Here is where it gets tricky. Making french toasts is an art, because there's more to it than what meets the eye. Sure the ingredients are all simple but it is the style and the perfect touch of the chef that makes it either perfect or a complete fiasco. There are not many places out there that I believed have mastered the french toast technique, but, Sweet Maple Cafe makes the cut. Boy their french toasts are great! Totally approve, and recommend. Now, what bothers me is that the biscuits with sausage and gravy were just okay, they weren't particularly good, which is surprising considering they are remarkably easy to get right once the french toast technique has been mastered, but this was just a disappointment. Avoid this as a side... On another bright side, I got their chocolate milk, which was delicious, and my friend ordered their blueberry pancakes which were both filling and yummy. All their portions were very reasonable. Their prices are just above average, but all and all is a place I'd like to come back to :) read more
3 years ago
12 years ago
Returned today in search of redemption and redemption I found! The Monterey Home Fries were amazing, better than I remember and my chicken and egg cheezer was delicious. Service was great as usual. My husband ordered the special soup which was chicken corn chowder and he loved it. He said it taste like the inside of an incredible chicken pot pie. Thanks for a remarkable dining experience. read more
8 years ago
The food here is always great!! They serve breakfast and brunch. On the weekends they have specials! My favorite dish the super yummy Salmon Cakes and French Toast. It's a small restaurant but well worth the wait when it's busy. The wait staff is ok, nothing to brag about but I will say this...I've never had to send my food back. The managers are always busy working hard to make sure the customers are accommodated. So basically as long as my food is correct, delicious and I'm treated with courteousness and respect...I'm on cloud nine. I get all of that here and I'm pretty sure you will too. read more
I don't know about any other meals because I always get the "sweet maple special" but the eggs, bacon, and home fries are solid! Best home fries out there. My husband loves their sunrise omelet. I've loved Sweet Maple for a long time and will continue to support them. The quality continues through the years. read more
11 years ago
SO flippin' good!!! Be prepared for a wait, as the place is a little small and very popular. If you get there by 10, the wait should be no longer than 20 min, and there are chairs outside. *** It's a 15 min walk from the Racine stop on the blue line OR there is a FREE gravel lot across the street *** Choosing something to eat here is tough, as there is so many perfect choices. I ended up ordering the Carmen G scramble- eggs w your choice of cheese, bacon, spinach, mushrooms, home fries and a biscuit and was sooooooooo happy with my choice. The portion size was big, but not huge to where I couldn't finish it. The home fries were nice and crispy, not overly greasy, and the biscuit was a huge square of carby heaven! YUM. I could go for the same meal again right now. Two of our other companions ordered a half order of pancakes- aka one pancake. It was the size of the entire plate! They had to quarter it to eat it and could barely finish it. I was impressed! They stayed on top of coffee refills the entire meal too. With tax, our meal/drinks was about $15 per person, which I didn't think was too exorbitant. I will be back!! read more
4 years ago
10 years ago
I had been meaning to go to Sweet Maple for a while but didn't have the chance till very recently. The ambience was great, it had this retro look to it which gave it a lot of character. We were quickly seated and our waitress helped quite a bit with recommendations. I had the Cinnamon Roll Pancakes which were fantastic. I was a little afraid that they might be too sweet bit they weren't. I also had a lemoande with freshly squeezed lemons and strawberries and a hint of coconut. I can't rememeber what it was called but it was fantastic. Overall I loved the food, the ambeince and the service, the only reason the place loses a star for me is because they could only take one credit card per table, which is something I always find extremely inconvenient especially if the restaurant is in an area with so many students. read more
3 years ago
10 years ago
Long wait, but it was our fault for choosing a wknd visit. Staff were friendly. The food was delicious. We had French toast that was dipped in some type of custard (so good).They tasted like a cross between birthday cake, a vanilla wafer and Christmas. Fried potatoes were made just right. The blueberry pancakes had really fresh blueberries that popped as I chewed. We also had the slacker fries (potatoes with corned beef hash, jalapeño, bacon & cheddar cheese). We loved everything but the hot chocolate. The whipped cream was good, but the drink was too watery and luke-warm. Overall I would visit again just for the French toast alone. read more
More info about Sweet Maple Cafe
1339 W Taylor St
Chicago, IL 60607
University Village
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(312) 243-8908
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http://www.sweetmaplecafechicago.com
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